Speaking as he arrived outside York Minster, where the National Police Memorial Day was held, the chief constable of Greater Manchester, Sir Peter Fahy said:

"It does give it a special poignancy because it's close after the deaths of Fiona and Nicola but the important thing today really is remembering all the officers who have given their lives during the year.

"I cannot tell you how much we have been uplifted by the public response, it has been quite extraordinary. It really does show the level of support for ordinary officers going about their day to day business."

Home Secretary Theresa May has joined hundreds of police to remember officers who have died on duty, including the two Pcs killed two weeks ago in Manchester.

Dozens of chief constables packed into York Minster, together with colleagues of all ranks and the families of officers who have died, for a service to mark National Police Memorial Day.

Speaking as he arrived outside The Minster, the chief constable of Greater Manchester, Sir Peter Fahy, said the recent deaths of Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes in the Mottram area of his force made the day even more poignant.